Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) has announced that it is working with RadioScape to develop the necessary hardware and software to support Digital Radio Mondialeâ„¢ (DRM). TI will supply the digital signal processor (DSP)-based digital radio silicon along with RadioScape’s software radio technology. Together these companies will offer a cost-effective platform for designing consumer receivers.
“Today’s announcement from Texas Instruments and RadioScape regarding their new DRM technology is a major milestone for the DRM consortium,” said Peter Senger, director of distribution at Deutsche Welle and chairman of the DRM Consortium. “Coupling TI’s position as a global leader in the semiconductor industry with RadioScape’s expertise in digital radio software brings invaluable resources to the DRM market. We believe their commitment to DRM will help drive its commercial success in the coming years - repeating their success at driving the DAB market by enabling a wide variety of receivers to be made at easily affordable prices.”
More than 65 leading broadcasters have begun transmitting live, daily or weekly DRM broadcasts and special programmes. The list includes international broadcasters as well as national radio networks and local radio stations - both commercial and
public. Combining DAB and DRM into new receivers will extend the range of digital stations and services available, even further enabling broadcasters to reach new audiences with innovative digital services anywhere in the world.
“We know what it takes to succeed in an emerging digital radio market,” says Les Mable, business development manager for Digital Radio at TI. “TI is committed to the promising new DRM market and will leverage our expertise to help provide the innovation required to speed its rapid adoption. The use of RadioScape’s software-defined radio solutions will allow a single cost-effective hardware platform to receive DRM, DAB, FM and AM broadcasts.”
Nigel Oakley, RadioScape’s VP of Marketing, adds, “RadioScape’s unique software approach provides the flexibility that customers require, especially for an emerging technology. New features, customized variants and changes in standards can all be easily done via our software running on TI’s programmable solution, unlike an ASIC chip that requires slow and expensive mask re-spins. Our experience in creating innovative DAB software solutions has made RadioScape one of the world leaders in Software-Defined Digital Radio and will enable us to create a similar success for DRM.”
